Where do you want to start? Africa is rich in mineral wealth and petroleum. It is also a large source of rare earth minerals that will be incredibly important in next generation technologies. Nigeria is the 7th most populous country in the world, and expected to surpass 4, 5, and 6 before the end of the century. As the Middle East is waning in importance, we'll see the rise of Africa as an economic powerhouse, and Western nations, if they were smart, would be doing what China and Russia are doing and trying to get in on the ground floor. China has done a great job building relations by trading infrastructure for oil.